Standardized Tests

Average GRE Scores for each University

Average GRE Scores for each University

Admission to the Master’s program in US universities depends on several criteria. Apart from focusing on academics, universities give importance to GRE scores. Doing well in your GRE increases the weightage of your application. The best definition of a good GRE score is that it should get you into your school of choice.

Most colleges have a cut off GRE score, or a minimum score that you must meet for your application to be considered. Sometimes meeting this cut off score is enough for the school to feel confident about your quantitative, verbal and analytical skills, but it is recommended that you score higher than the cut-off score to improve your chances of being admitted. Some schools are more accommodating and flexible. They assess your overall profile if you fail to meet their GRE cut-off score. Hence, before you begin studying for the GRE, it’s a good idea to know the score that you need to achieve. Here is a list of the minimum score required by some universities in the USA. Average GRE Scores for each University

Here is the list of average GRE scores for each university for Engineering Master’s program for the year 2016-17. Average GRE Scores for each University

Minimum TOEFL Scores for each University

Minimum TOEFL Scores for each University

A TOEFL score is usually considered as a criterion for rejection rather than for selection. Universities spell out a minimum score as a mandatory requirement for students coming from non-English speaking countries since English is the language of communication in the US. If you meet this eligibility requirement, your application is passed on to the next stage of the selection procedure. Sometimes meeting this cut off score is enough for the school to feel confident about your English skills, but there are cases where it is recommended that you score higher than the cut-off score to improve your chances of being admitted. Some schools are more accommodating and flexible and ask for alternative requirements if you fail to meet their TOEFL cut-off score. Hence, before you begin studying for the TOEFL, it’s a good idea to know the score that you need to achieve.

Given below is a list of the minimum scores required for each university for studying the Engineering Master’s program for the year 2016-17.

Minimum TOEFL Scores for each University

Student feedbacks on GRE and TOEFL Exam Centres in Mumbai

You are working your fingers to the bone to get a perfect score and your mock test results are reflecting the dedicated efforts you are putting in. But this is not the only groundwork you need to do before taking standardized tests like GRE and TOEFL — it’s equally important to select the right test center. While the GRE and TOEFL test are administered all year-round at various test centers across the country, it is crucial that you select your test centres prudently. To save you from the pain of physically visiting the centres across Mumbai, Collegepond has put in extensive effort in researching GRE and TOEFL centers for you by conducting surveys based on several parameters for each test center- Goregaon, Andheri, Mulund, Nerul and Vile Parle. Staff cooperation, seating comfort, punctuality, ease of registration, absence of technical difficulties, proper stationery, quality of headphones and appropriate space with regards to seating arrangements are parameters we’ve measured for you. Student feedbacks on GRE and TOEFL Exam Centres in Mumbai

Got a sudden doubt regarding your test and don’t know what the solution is? A question seems a bit foggy? The graph above shows the attitude of the staff towards test-takers in each center. Student feedbacks on GRE and TOEFL Exam Centres in Mumbai

Your mental faculties might be fully focused on your test but your physical comfort could affect your test taking abilities. The graph above tells you which of the five centers had comfortable seating while taking the test.

You are frantically racing against time and due to mismanagement of something logistical your nerves can’t cope. The graph above displays which centers take punctuality seriously.

Pre-test jitters are no joke. The ratings above show if there was any difficulty while providing your passport and other details during the registration process.

Silence is golden, especially so while taking an exam. We asked our test takers if they were able to complete the test without any interruptions or technical difficulties, and here’s what they said.

You don’t want something like a broken pencil to mess with you in the middle of an important question. Our test takers gave us reports on whether they got proper stationery, which we have displayed above.

Imagine going wrong because of faulty equipment. We asked our test takers if their headphones and other equipment were of usable quality, which the ratings above clearly indicate.

You’ve put in hours of sweat and blood into your test prep and you end up sitting in a space that makes you so claustrophobic you can’t focus. We evaluated parameters such as the test room being cramped with computers and students being too close to each other, results of which can be seen above.

Your test needs to go smoothly from start to finish. Our test takers gave us feedback on whether they were able to resume their test after the break without any issue, results of which are visible above.

Top Entrance exams for overseas study | Education Abroad

Overseas education is gaining a lot of prominence and it caters to students of varied academic backgrounds and interests. However, there are certain prerequisites that need to be met in order to gain admission into an overseas university. Top Entrance exams for overseas study

Top entrance exams: Top Entrance exams for overseas study

Some of the most popular and important international entrance exams include the GRE, GMAT, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS and PTE. Students may be required to give a combination of one or more exams which may be unique to that country and its education system.

Given below is a brief introduction to the various entrance exams and respective paper formats:

GRE: Top Entrance exams for overseas study

The Graduate Record Examination, a standardized test, is a prerequisite for gaining admission into a majority of graduate schools in the United States. It was created as well as administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 1949. GRE aims to test verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills of students that have been developed over a period of time. Students who wish to pursue a master’s degree or want to study a specialized master’s course; MBA, MEM, MS or a doctoral degree can give the GRE Test. The computer-based GRE revised General Test consists of five sections. The first section of the test is the analytical writing section which consists of Issue and Argument tasks. The other five sections have two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and either an experimental or a research section.

GMAT: Top Entrance exams for overseas study

The Graduate Management Admission Test, commonly known as the GMAT, is a computer-based examination used to measure skills that are necessary for the study of management. Its duration is 3½-hours, and it is designed to predict how students will perform academically in MBA programs. Based on the GMAT scores, graduate business schools make admission decisions. Several schools require GMAT scores from applicants, therefore preparing well for the test is important. The GMAT score is vital as it can be the deciding factor regarding acceptance or rejection to a program. The GMAT tests four major skills: analytical writing, quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and integrated reasoning. These skills are analyzed through four sections namely:

A separate score and percentile rank are provided for all the exam sections mentioned above.

SAT: Top Entrance exams for overseas study

The SAT is a standardized and general test of verbal and quantitative reasoning which is required by many US colleges and universities as part of their admission process. Originally, it was called the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and now it is known as SAT. The duration of the test is three hours, and it measures the verbal and mathematical reasoning skills that students have developed over time. Many colleges and universities use the SAT as one of the admission criteria among others such as class rank, GPA, participation in extracurricular activities, personal essay and letters of recommendation.

SAT consists of two different examinations:

The SAT Reasoning Test (Earlier known as SAT I)

The SAT Subject Test (Earlier known as SAT II)

The SAT Reasoning Test is a three-hour and forty-five-minute test which comprises of three sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. This test is designed to measure critical thinking and analytical skills. The SAT Subject Tests are a series of one-hour multiple-choice tests in subjects such as Literature, US and World History, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

TOEFL: Top Entrance exams for overseas study

Students who wish to study abroad in an English-speaking country are required to take a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). It assesses your ability to speak and understand English by analyzing your English skills in terms of reading, speaking, listening and writing. It evaluates how well you combine these skills to perform academic tasks. TOEFL is accepted as proof of English proficiency in 9,000 colleges, and it is conducted more than 50 times in a year by Educational Testing Service (ETS) – a US-based non-profit organization. TOEFL has two versions: TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) and TOEFL PBT (paper-based test). Both the versions of TOEFL test has four sections- Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing and takes about 4-hours to complete. Students can retake the TOEFL test as many times as they wish. It uses both human raters and automated scoring methods for evaluating a student’s performance.

IELTS:

The International English language testing system (IELTS) is a popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. Its objective is to assess the ability and preparedness of students who wish to study or train in a foreign country. IELTS assesses the test takers English skills with respect to reading, writing, listening and speaking. It is accepted by over 9,000 organizations worldwide, including schools, universities, immigration authorities and professional bodies.

The two versions of IELTS are- the Academic IELTS and the General Training IELTS. The Academic IELTS is usually for people who wish to study abroad, and the General Training IELTS is usually for people want to follow a non-academic course or for immigration. The duration of IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it consists of four sections which test the candidates listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.

PTE:

PTE Academic (The Pearson Test of English) is a computer- based English language test designed to assess the readiness and ability of non-native English speakers to participate in a university-level program which is taught in English. PTE focuses on real-life English used in academic surroundings. PTE Academic assesses listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. PTE is accepted by thousands of universities worldwide, including prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, INSEAD and Yale. In the three-hour test, there are three main sections- Writing coupled with speaking, listening skills and reading. There are twenty different types of question formats, ranging from multiple choice questions to essay writing and information interpretation.

TOEFL vs. IELTS vs. PTE

TOEFL scores are accepted by a majority of universities in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. The IELTS is mandatory for Indian and other non-native English speakers, especially in the Commonwealth countries. The PTE is accepted by several institutions in the UK, Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland including Harvard, Yale and INSEAD.

While TOEFL and IELTS are more well-known, there are other tests like PTE, which is relatively new. All the three tests have a few characteristics that make them unique, but they also share a few similarities. The three tests have similar sections such as- Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing, but they differ when it comes to assessing the speaking skills, scoring and evaluation criterion and format of the writing section. Unlike IELTS and TOEFL, PTE has several innovative question formats.

GRE vs. GMAT

The GRE is another examination which Indian students must give if they wish to study in the USA or Canada. It measures the verbal, mathematical and analytical skills of the student. It is a prerequisite for gaining admission into many graduate courses, particularly for engineering and the science field in USA. Students who wish to specialize in management courses (like MBA) must take the GMAT, which is an admission requirement for business schools in US and UK.

To sum it up, these top international entrance exams are a standard as well as reliable mode for assessing a large number of applicants who aspire to study abroad. Therefore, students must plan in advance and prepare well in order to get high scores in these exams and gain admission into the university of their choice.

PTE Test Format and Scoring

What is PTE? PTE Test Format and Scoring

PTE Academic (The Pearson Test of English) is a computer-based English language test designed to assess the readiness and ability of non-native English speakers to participate in a university-level program taught in English. PTE focuses on real-life English used in academic surroundings. PTE Academic English test assesses listening, reading, speaking and writing skills of the test taker. It is accepted by thousands of universities worldwide, including prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School, INSEAD and Yale.

Test Format: PTE Test Format and Scoring

It is a three-hour test session with three main sections: speaking and writing (together), listening and reading. There are twenty different question formats, ranging from multiple choice questions to essay writing and interpreting information.

PART 1: SPEAKING AND WRITING (75 – 90 minutes)

Speaking: PTE Test Format and Scoring

A student’s writing skills is tested during Part 1 of the test. Speaking skills is also tested by asking the student to repeat sentences, respond to questions and summarize passages. Students should not start speaking before the microphone opens or else their voice will not be recorded. Students should speak clearly and remember that they will be able to record their answer only once. They must finish speaking before the progress bar reaches the end and then the word “Recording” changes to “Completed”.

Personal introduction PTE Test Format and Scoring

This is an opportunity for the students to give the selected institutions some information about themselves. Students will be given 25 seconds to prepare and their response will be sent together with their score report to the institutions selected by them.

Read aloud PTE Test Format and Scoring

Students are required to read a written text aloud. They will have 30-40 seconds to prepare, depending on the length of the passage. However, students will be able to record their response only once.

Repeat sentence PTE Test Format and Scoring

Students are required to repeat the sentence that they hear. The audio will begin to play automatically. When the audio finishes the students have to speak into the microphone immediately and repeat exactly what they heard. They will not be able to replay the audio.

Describe image PTE Test Format and Scoring

Students are required to describe an image, and they are given 25 seconds to study the image and prepare for it. Students must keep in mind that they will be able to record their response only once.

Re-tell lecture PTE Test Format and Scoring

In this test, students are required to repeat what they hear in the audio. The students may also see an image related to the audio. After the audio is over, students will be able to record their answer only once. However, students can take notes while the audio is playing.

Answer short questions PTE Test Format and Scoring

Here students are required to reply to the question in a few words. The audio may be accompanied by an image. Once the audio is over, students have to answer the questions. Students will not able to replay the audio, and can record their response only once.

Writing:

The Word Count will be given at the bottom of the screen. Cut, copy and paste buttons are also available which can be used by students during the writing test.

Summarize written text

Students are required to write a summary of the text in one sentence within 10 minutes. Students must include the main points of the passage in a full, single sentence of no more than 75 words.

Write Essay

Students are required to write a 200-300 word argumentative essay in response to a prompt in 20 minutes.

PART 2: READING (30 – 40 minutes)

In this section, students are mainly tested on their reading skills.

Multiple-choice (choose single answer)

Students are required to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice questions. Several answer options will be given but only one is correct. The option selected by the student will be highlighted in yellow.

Multiple-choice (choose multiple answers)

Students are required to read the passage and answer the multiple-choice question, but more than one correct response is possible. Students need to select all the response options that they think are correct from the list of possible options given.

Re-order paragraphs

Students are required to restore the original order of the text by selecting text boxes and dragging them across the screen. To deselect a box, students have to left-click elsewhere on the screen.

Fill in the blanks

Students are required to drag and drop words across the screen to correctly fill in the gaps in the text. They will be given a list of words in a blue box that they can use to fill the gaps in the text.

Fill in the blanks

Students are required to select the most appropriate words from a drop-down list to restore the text. A passage is given with some missing words and beside each gap there is a button with a drop-down list. Students are required to Left-click on this button and select the option that best fills the gap.

PART 3: LISTENING (45 – 60 minutes)

Students are tested on their listening skills. It consists of questions that are based on audio or video clips which students can listen to only once however; they are allowed to take notes.

Summarize spoken text PTE Test Format and Scoring

Students are required to listen to an audio recording and write a 50-70 word summary within 10 minutes. The Word Count is given at the bottom of the screen which counts the number of words written.

Multiple-choice (choose multiple answers) PTE Test Format and Scoring

Students are required to listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice question wherein more than one correct response is possible. Students need to select all the response options that they think are correct from the list of possible options. The options selected are highlighted in yellow.

Fill in the blanks

Students are given a transcript of the audio recording, however some words are missing. They have to restore the transcript by typing in the missing words.

Highlight correct summary

Students are required to select the summary that best matches the recording. After listening to the audio students have to select the answer from the given options.

Multiple-choice, choose single answer

Students are required to listen to the recording and answer the multiple-choice questions. Several possible options will be provided but only one is correct. The option selected will be highlighted in yellow.

Select missing word

Here the last word or group of words in the recording will be replaced by a beep and students are required to select the most appropriate option to complete the recording. Out of the various options the students have to select one option.

Highlight incorrect words

Students will be presented with a transcript of the audio recording, which contains some errors. While listening and reading, students are required to select the words in the text that differ from what the speaker says. The selected words will be highlighted in yellow.

Write from dictation

Students have to hear a short sentence and type the sentence into the response box given at the bottom of the screen. Students can take notes while the video is being played but remember to check their spellings.

Registration and payment:

Students can register for the test either online or by phone. Payment can be made through- MasterCard and Visa debit cards or American Express, JCB, MasterCard and Visa credit cards. However, PayPal is not accepted

On the Test day:

The students have to provide to the test administrator copies of their ID. The administrator will ask for a digital photograph and signature and scan the student’s palm. Students will be assigned a locker to check-in their belongings. If a student fails to provide an ID, he will not be allowed to take the test and will lose his test fee. If a student is unable to appear for the test, he may receive a partial refund if he cancels his test before the appointment date.

PTE Scores:

Students will receive their results within 5 working days. The test scores are reported on the Global Scale of English, a standardized, numeric scale from 10 to 90. The scores can be accessed via an online account. Students will receive an email notifying them once the scores are available. Students can see their scores once they have signed into their Pearson Vue account at www.pearsonvue.com/pte. Students can also send their scores to unlimited number of institutions free of charge once they have signed into their account. It generally takes 48 hours for the scores to be sent to institutions.

If a student is disappointed with his score, he can take the test again. He can retake the PTE as many times as he wants to but he must wait until he has received his scores from the test before booking another. One can send his/her scores to unlimited number of institutions, but can select only seven recipients at any one time. However, the test scores are valid for two years from the date of the test.

Rescoring: PTE Test Format and Scoring

If a student is unhappy with his PTE score, he can request for a rescore. However, a student can request for a rescore only for his most recent PTE Academic test. He cannot request a rescore if he has already either scheduled another test or sent his score to an institution.

For rescoring, the student must contact Pearson Customer Service within 14 calendar days of his report being made available. If the scores change then the rescore fee will be fully refunded to the student.

Patterns and Introduction to GRE sections

What is GRE? Introduction to GRE sections

The Graduate Record Examination is a standardized test that is a prerequisite for gaining admission at majority of graduate schools in the United States. It is created as well as administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). GRE aims to assess verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills of students. Students who wish to pursue a master’s degree or want to study a specialized master’s course; MBA, MEM, MS or a doctoral degree can give the GRE Test.

Eligibility Criteria: Introduction to GRE sections

There is no specific eligibility criterion for taking the GRE Test. Students can apply for the test irrespective of age and qualification. However, the candidate has to fulfil the admission criteria for individual institutes where he/she is applying.

GRE Structure and Pattern: Introduction to GRE sections

The computer-based GRE revised General Test consists of five sections. The first section is the analytical writing section which consists of Issue and Argument tasks. The other five sections have two verbal reasoning sections, two quantitative reasoning sections, and either an experimental or a research section. However, these five sections can occur in any order.

The GRE revised General Test is a multistage test. This format allows the student to move back and forth between questions that are a part of the same section, and the testing software allows the student to “mark” questions within each section so that they can be reviewed later, if time permits. It takes 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete the test but one-minute breaks are offered after each section, and a 10-minute break is also given after the third section. The paper-based GRE General Test consists of six sections, but it is only available in areas where computer-based testing is unavailable.

Analytical writing section: Introduction to GRE sections

This section consists of two different essays- “Issue” and “Argument”. Grades are given on a scale of 0–6, in half-point increments. Students are required to write the essays on a computer using a word processing program which is specifically designed by ETS. Using this program, students can perform only certain basic computer functions. It does not contain a spell-checker or any other advanced features. Both the essays are graded by at least two readers on a six-point scale.

Issue Essay

The students are given 30 minutes to write an essay based on a debatable topic. In an issue essay, a student is required to pick a side and give their point of view. It tests the student’s ability of convincing the examiner to agree to his/her point of view. Issue topics are usually selected from a pool of questions, which the GRE Program has published in its entirety.

Argument Essay

The students are given an argument (i.e. a series of facts and considerations leading to a conclusion), and they are asked to write an essay that criticizes the given argument. Students are required to carefully understand the argument’s logic and then make suggestions about how the logic of the argument can be improved. Basically, students are required to focus on the logical flaws of the argument and not give any their viewpoints on the subject. The students must complete this essay in 30 minutes.

Quantitative section: Introduction to GRE sections

It assesses a student’s basic high school level mathematical knowledge and reasoning skills. It is scored on a scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments. Each section consists of 20 questions which need to be completed in 35 minutes. Every section has around nine problem-solving items, eight quantitative comparisons, and three data interpretation questions. It also includes numeric entry items which require the students to fill in the blanks and answer multiple-choice questions.

Verbal Section: Introduction to GRE sections

The verbal sections assess a student’s reading comprehension, critical reasoning and vocabulary usage. The verbal test is scored on a scale of 130-170, in 1-point increments. Each section consists of 20 questions which need to be completed in 30 minutes. Every section consists of around six text completion, four sentence equivalence, and ten critical reading questions. However, text completion has replaced sentence completion and new reading question types with multiple answer choices have been added.

Experimental section: Introduction to GRE sections

The experimental section (verbal or quantitative), consists of new questions that ETS is considering for future use, however, the experimental section does not form a part of the main score. Since students have no definite way of knowing which section is experimental, it is advisable for students to give their best in every section. Sometimes an identified research section at the end of the test is also provided instead of the experimental section.

Test Dates:

The GRE Test (computer based) is offered year-round at Prometric test centres. Students can take the GRE Test once in every 21 days, up to five times within a 12-month period. This applies even if a student has cancelled his scores of a previously taken test. However, to register and take the test on a specific date, students are required to first create a ‘My GRE Account.’

Registration:

To register for GRE, students have to create a ‘My GRE Account’. There are four ways to register for the GRE general test- Online, Phone, Mail and Fax registration.

Scores:

In the GRE test, three scores are reported:

Verbal Reasoning wherein the scores are given on a scale of 130–170, in 1-point increments

Quantitative Reasoning also on a 130–170 score scale with 1-point increments and

Analytical Writing which is given on a 0–6 score level, in half-point increments.

The official scores are mailed in 10–15 days after the student’s actual test date.

Validity of GRE scores:

The scores are valid for five years. However, students can request for a re-score up to 3 months after the actual test date.

TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

One of the most important criteria for students who wish to pursue their further studies at an English-speaking university abroad is proficiency in English Language. Taking English Language Proficiency tests is essential for students from countries like India, where English is not the first language. The Proficiency of international students in English Language is assessed through certain popular standardized tests such as TOEFL, IELTS and the relatively new PTE. Due to the availability of so many options, students often get confused as to which test they should choose. Hence a comparative analysis of TOEFL, IELTS and PTE will enable students to understand all the aspects of these tests and make the right decision. TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

About the tests: TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

TOEFL– The Test of English Language as a Foreign Language, popularly known as TOEFL, measures a student’s ability to use and understand English. It tests how well a student can combine the listening, reading, speaking and writing skills while performing academic tasks. TOEFL is the trademark of ETS and it is older than IELTS and PTE.

IELTS– The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a standardized English Language Proficiency Test, which is one of the most popular tests taken by students who wish to study abroad. It is owned by British Council, IDP, IELTS Australia and Cambridge English Language Assessment.

PTE– The PTE (Pearson Test of English) was launched in 2009. It assesses the English language skills of non-native English speakers. PTE is accredited by the QCA and is managed by Edexcel, which is UK’s largest examining body.

Test Versions: TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

TOEFL consists of TOEFL PBT (TOEFL Paper-based Test) and TOEFL iBT (TOEFL Internet-based Test). IELTS has two versions: Academic and General Training and PTE has three versions: Academic, General and Young Learner Test. The Academic version is for students who wish to secure an admission into a university whereas the General version is for non-academic purposes. The PTE Young Learner Test aims to assess how well children can use language structures and communicate.

Basic information about tests: TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

TOEFL has both paper-based and Internet-based tests, but the internet based test is more popular. Although a student can retake the test unlimited number of times, he cannot take it more than once in a 12-day period. TOEFL scores are accepted by around 8,500 colleges and other institutions in approximately 130 countries. Students can register for the test either online or by mail, phone or in person. While registering online, by phone or in person, registration closes seven days before the test date and while registering by mail, registration closes four weeks before the test date.

Around 8,000 organizations accept IELTS scores as evidence of English language proficiency. IELTS is conducted on 48 fixed dates, the IELTS Academic Version being available on all 48 dates and the IELTS General Training Version being available on only 24 dates. Students can register for the test either online or via mail.

Since PTE is a relatively new test, the number of students giving this test and the number of universities accepting it might be lower than that of TOEFL and IELTS however, PTE Academic scores are accepted by top US and UK universities as well as certain government organizations. The PTE Academic test is conducted in a number of test centres across 46 countries. Students can register for the test either online or via phone.

Test Sections: TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

All the three tests have similar sections- Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, however, there are certain features which differentiate them from one another.

In IELTS, during the speaking test, students are required to conduct a conversation with a certified IELTS Examiner, which is then recorded into a digital recorder. Whereas in TOEFL and PTE Academic, students are required to speak into a microphone and the computer records the audio. In TOEFL, the Speaking test is evaluated by a human rater, while in PTE, the Speaking test is evaluated through a computer program. In TOEFL, during the writing section, students are required to write an essay based on reading and listening tasks. They are also required to support an opinion in writing. In IELTS Academic, questions are asked based on an argument or on a diagram, graph or chart. PTE includes a lot of innovative question formats, and it has an automated speech and writing scoring as well.

Scoring: TOEFL vs IELTS vs PTE

All the three tests have different scoring patterns. In TOEFL, scores are given to students on a scale of 0 to 120. In IELTS, students are given scores from 1 to 9 based on their performance and in PTE, students are assessed on a scale of 10 to 90.

Results:

Students receive the TOEFL score reports within two weeks, and IELTS score reports after 13 calendar days. In the case of PTE, students receive their results online in five days. If students have taken TOEFL and IELTS, then their scores are forwarded to 4-5 universities respectively for free. If students take PTE, their score reports as well as recorded speech samples are sent to the university’s admission committee. However, the TOEFL, IELTS and PTE Academic scores are valid for two years.

About the TOEFL Exam

Students who wish to study abroad in an English-speaking country are required to take a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). This test assesses one’s ability to speak and understand English by analyzing his/her English language skills in terms of reading, speaking, listening and writing. It evaluates how well one can combine these skills to perform well in academic tasks. TOEFL is accepted as proof of English proficiency across 9,000 colleges and it is conducted more than 50 times in a year by Educational Testing Service (ETS) – a US-based non-profit organisation. About the TOEFL Exam

TOEFL test format: About the TOEFL Exam

TOEFL has two versions: TOEFL IBT (Internet-based Test) and TOEFL PBT (paper-based test). Both the versions of TOEFL test has four sections- Reading, Speaking, Listening and Writing and takes about 4-hours to complete. Students can retake the TOEFL test as many times as they wish. It uses both human raters and automated scoring methods for evaluating a student’s performance.

Reading Section– It consists of questions based on 4-6 passages, each approximately 700 words in length. The passages are based on academic topics, and it tests the student’s understanding of concepts such as cause-effect, compare-contrast and argumentation. 36 to 56 questions are asked in this section which must be answered within 60-80 minutes.

Listening section– It consists of questions on six passages which are 3–5 minutes in length. It includes two student conversations and four academic lectures or discussions. Each conversation and lecture passage can be heard only once. Students are allowed to take notes while they listen, and they may refer to their notes when they answer these questions. The questions measure the ability of the student to understand ideas, important details, implications, organization of information, the speaker’s purpose as well as attitude. 34-51 questions are asked in this section which must be answered within 60-90 minutes.

Speaking section– It consists of six tasks: two independent and four integrated, which must be completed within 20 minutes. In the two independent tasks, students answer opinion questions on familiar topics. They are evaluated on their ability to speak spontaneously and convey their ideas clearly and coherently. In the four integrated tasks, students are required to read a short passage and listen to an academic course discussion or a conversation about campus life and answer the questions based on what they read and heard. In the integrated tasks, students are evaluated on their ability to effectively convey information from the reading and listening material. Students can take notes as they read and listen and can also refer to them while preparing their responses. The responses are then digitally recorded, sent to ETS’s Online Scoring Network and evaluated by three to six raters.

Writing section– It measures a student’s ability to write in an academic setting and consists of two tasks: one integrated and one independent which must be completed within 60 minutes. For the integrated task, students are required to read a passage on an academic topic and then listen to a speaker. The student has to write a summary of the important points and explain how they relate to the key points of the passage. For the independent task, the student has to write an essay that states his opinion or choice and then explain it. The students’ answers are sent to the ETS OSN and evaluated by at least three different raters.

Registration and fees: TOEFL Registration can be Online, by mail, by phone and in person; however, a majority of candidates apply for TOEFL online.

Registration is available three to four months before the test date. It is advisable to register early to reserve a seat and prevent last minute rush.

The test fee depends on the location where the student will be taking the test.

Generally, the registration deadline is seven days prior to the test date (not including the day of the test).

The last date for registration is three full days before the test date (not including the day of the test or the day of the request).

Registration Number: The registration number is given on the Registration Confirmation in the online account the day before the test.

Valid, acceptable identification (ID) document(s): It is advisable to bring at least two forms of acceptable ID each time students report to a test centre.

The ID document must include:

Original document; photocopies are not acceptable

Student’s full name that matches the name they have used while registering

A recent photograph of the student

Student’s signature

If a student does not bring a valid and acceptable ID, or if the name on the ID does not match the name given during the registration, then the student will not be permitted to take the test, and the test fee will not be refunded.

TOEFL Scores: About the TOEFL Exam

Scores are based on the students’ performance in the test. They must answer at least one question each in the Reading and Listening sections, write at least one essay, and complete at least one Speaking task to receive an official score. The scores will be posted online approximately ten days after the test date.

Students will receive a score ranging between 0 to 30 for all the four sections and a total score ranging between 0 to 120 for the entire test. These scores will be valid for two years after the test date. The scores will be available in 10 days, and students can view them online easily.

A paper score report is also mailed if a student selects that option when he registers.

Scores can be sent for free to maximum four institutions which students select prior to their test day.

Students can take the test again to improve their scores. There is no limit to the number of times they can take the test, but they cannot take it more than once within a 12-day period.

Cancellation of Scores:

If a student cancels his scores, the scores will not be reported to him or any of the institutions and his test fee will not be refunded. Cancelled scores are not added to the student’s permanent record. A student cannot cancel his scores for one section and have scores for other sections reported. However, there is no fee for cancelling the scores.

Cancelled scores can be reinstated for a fee, if a student’s request is received at ETS within 60 days after his test date. Reinstated scores are reported online about three weeks after receipt of his request and payment. His scores will then be provided to him and the designated institutions.

TOEFL scholarships are also awarded to students from Mainland China, India, Japan, Korea or Taiwan for achieving academic excellence and demonstrating English-communication proficiency.

IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

What is IELTS? IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

The International English language testing system (IELTS) is a popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. IELTS assesses the test taker’s English skills with respect to reading, writing, listening and speaking. It is accepted by over 9,000 organisations worldwide, including schools, universities, immigration authorities and professional bodies. IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

The two versions of IELTS are – the Academic IELTS and the General Training IELTS. The Academic IELTS is for people who wish to study abroad and the General Training IELTS is for people who want to follow a non-academic course or for immigration purposes.

IELTS Test Format and Scores: IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

The duration of IELTS exam is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and it consists of four sections, which tests the candidate’s listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.

The Listening Test: IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

In the listening test, students have to listen to a pre-recorded passage. This test is the same for both the IELTS versions – Academic as well as General Training. The duration of the test is approximately 30 minutes and students are allowed an extra 10 minutes to write their answers in the answer sheet provided.

The IELTS Listening test assesses a wide range of listening skills, including how well the students –

understand the main ideas as well as the specific information

recognize the opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker

follow the development of an argument

The IELTS Listening test has four sections, wherein students answer questions based on –

A conversation between two people.

A monologue set in an everyday situation.

A conversation between some people set in an educational or training context.

A monologue on an academic subject.

However, each section can only be heard once.

Questions IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

40 questions are asked in this test, and students may have to answer multiple choice questions, fill in the blanks, complete a table or a flow chart or give short answers.

Scoring IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

Every correct answer is awarded one mark. The scores out of a total of 40 are then converted into the IELTS 9-band scale.

The Reading Test:

Students are required to read three different passages and answer questions based on them. The content of the Reading test is different for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training tests. The duration for this test is 60 minutes.

The Reading test assesses a wide range of reading skills, including how well a student can –

Read and obtain a general sense of a passage along with the details and main ideas.

Understand inferences and implied meaning

Recognize a writer’s opinions, attitudes and purpose

Follow the development of an argument

The IELTS Academic Reading test has three sections, and each one contains one long text, which is taken from books, magazines or newspapers. The text might be accompanied by diagrams, graphs or illustrations, and students are expected to understand both.

Questions

40 questions are asked in this test and students may be asked to answer multiple choice questions, fill gaps in a passage of written text or a table, complete sentences or give short answers to open questions.

Scoring IELTS – TEST FORMAT AND SCORING

Every correct answer is awarded one mark. The scores out of a total of 40 are then converted into the IELTS 9-band scale.

The Writing Test:

The writing test is designed to assess a wide range of writing skills, including how well a student can organize ideas, write meaningful and relevant answers, and use a range of vocabulary with grammatical accuracy. The duration of the Writing test is 60 minutes.

The writing test has two tasks, wherein students will be asked to write at least 150 words for the first task and at least 250 words for the second one. In the first task, students will be presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and they have to describe, summarize or explain it in their own words. In the second task, they have to write an essay based on a point of view, argument or problem.

Scoring

The scoring for the Writing test is done by a certified IELTS examiner. The scores are reported in whole and half bands.

The Speaking Test:

In this test, students have to talk to a certified examiner. The test is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as possible. The test is recorded and a variety of accents may be used. The content of the Speaking Test is the same for both the IELTS test versions. The Speaking test takes 11-14 minutes.

The Speaking test assesses a wide range of skills. The objective of this test is to see how well students can –

Express opinions and communicate information on everyday topics by answering a range of questions.

Speak on a given topic using appropriate language

Express ideas coherently and justify their opinions

Analyze and discuss issues.

The Speaking test has three sections:

Part 1– In this section, the examiner will introduce himself and ask the student to introduce himself and confirm his identity. The examiner then asks general questions about the student’s family, work, studies and interests. The duration is 4-5 minutes.

Part 2– In this section, the examiner gives a task card and asks the student to talk about a particular topic, giving him one minute to prepare notes. Then the student will be asked to talk for 1-2 minutes on the topic and the examiner will ask a few questions on the same topic.

Part 3– In this section, the examiner will ask the student further questions, which are connected to the topic of Part 2. The questions are designed to give the student an opportunity to discuss more abstract issues and ideas.

Scoring

Certified IELTS examiners assess the students’ performance in this test. Students will be marked on the following four criteria –

Fluency and coherence

Lexical resource

Grammar

Pronunciation

The scores are then reported in the form of a 9 band scale.

Cost of IELTS:

The IELTS test fees vary from country to country, but it is the same for both the versions of the test (Academic and General Training).

IELTS Test Day:

Students can apply to take the IELTS exam at any IELTS Administration Centre. They must ensure that they have the right ID with them. If they bring the wrong ID, they will not be allowed to take the test. Students must carry two recent identical passport-sized photographs as well. Only a pen or pencil, eraser and the ID will be allowed in the exam centre.

Understanding IELTS Scores:

Students receive a score for each test component – Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. The individual scores are then averaged and rounded to produce an Overall Band Score. IELTS is scored on a nine-band scale; wherein each band signifies a student’s competence in the English language. The overall band scores are then reported to the nearest half band. This means that the score is rounded up to the next half band if it ends in .25 and it is rounded up to the next whole band if it ends in .75.Students must note that most of the ivy league colleges in U.S. require a minimum score of around 7.0.

IELTS Results:

IELTS test results are provided 13 calendar days after the test date. An Overall Band Score from 1-9, along with a band score for each of the 4 sections of the test is provided.

If a student has nominated institutions to provide copies of the IELTS test results during registration, then the results will be sent automatically on his behalf. Students must note that the Test Report Forms will be valid for two years only.

If a student wishes to take the exam again, he does not have to wait for any mandatory period to elapse in order to re-take the exam. Also, there is no limit to the number of times a student can give the IELTS exam.

If a student is not happy with his result, he can apply for a re-examination, which is known as an Enquiry on Results, within six weeks of the test date. However, he will have to pay an enquiry fee, which will be fully refunded if the band score is changed post the re-examination.